Mail-pouch.



J. A. MoGRAW.

MAIL roucn APPLIQATIOK nun JULY 14, 1909.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

"I Noll"! Innis cm, wAsmNmN. D c.

UNITED sir TEs PATENT ornicn.

JOHN A. MCGRAW, OF NATHALI'E; VIRGINIA.

MAIL-POUCH.

Application filed. m 14, 1908., Serial No. 443,514.

To all whomtt may, concern: I

Be it known that I, John MoCnAw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nathalie, in the'county of Halifax and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in carrying receptacles and more particularly to a mail pouch especially adapted for the use of rural delivery mail-carriers, The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, convenient and inexpensive device of this character having a plurality of separate compartments. for the mail matter and into which mailmay be readily deposited and from which it may be as readily removed. 7

With the above andiothenobjects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and an rangement of parts hereinafter 1 fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- .Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved mail pouch; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical and horizontal sectional views through the same; and Fig. 1 is a detail View of one of the metal frames.

The invention comprises a plurality of rectangular metal frames 1, a plurality of bags 2 of canvas, leather, or the like and two end pieces 3 of similar material; "Each of the bags 2 forms one of the pockets at of the pouch or receptacle and the several bags are united to each other by placing the frames 1 between their opposing sides and then sewing or stitching said sides together, as shown at5, around saidframes 1. The bags 2 as well as the frames 1 are of rectangular shape but they are of greater widthand length than said frames and in making the pouch jacent to the upper or open edges of the bags so that the proj ecting portions of the sides and bottoms of the bags form'bellows-like folds 6 which permit the compartments 4' to be expanded or contractedaccording to the quantity of mail matter or the like placed in them. Any number of said bags may be united to each other and the endmost .ones have the end pieces 3 sewed or stitched to them and around the endmost frames 1, which latter are placed upon the outer faces of the endmost bags, as will be readily understood upon Specification of Letters Patent.

the latter have their upper ends arranged. ad-

, Patented April 27, 1909.

per ends of the frames 1 and, consequently,

the tops or mouths of the pockets or com-' partments d to be contracted. The bags 2 may be of any suitable form andconstruction but, as illustrated, they are made of-two similar shaped pieces secured around their side and bottom edges by sewing or stitching them,as shown at 9, i r For the purpose of retaining the mail matteriwithin the pouch and permitting the latter to be conveniently carried, top and side'fastening straps are provided. The top strap consists of two sections 10, 11, the former of which has one end attached to one of the end pieces 3 and its other end provided with a buckle 12. The other section 11 is attached to the other end piece 3 and is adapted to extend over the open upper ends of the compartments 1, its free end being provided with a series of openings to receive the tongue of the buckle 12. Each of the side'fastening straps is similarly constructed and consists of two sections 13, 14 adjustably united by a buckle 15. Said straps 13, 14 are secured to the opposite end pieces 3 adja-' cent to the lower ends of the latter and they are adapted to extend over the bellows-folds 6, as clearly shown in Fig. '1. It will be seen that the section 11 of the top strap serves to prevent'the mail matter from fallingout of the pockets 4 andalso serves as a handle for conveniently carrying the pouch.

' In using the invention, it will be seen that when the sections of the top and side straps are disconnected from each other the several compartments may be stretched to their open position so that the pouch will be of substantially rectangular form and will stand by itself upon a desk or table While the mail arranged over the last mentioned frames and matter is being placed in it. After the mail has been properly distributed in the several pockets of the pouch at the post oflice the top and side straps may be fastened to prevent the mail matter from falling out and being lost and to permit the pouch to be conveniently carried. When the carrier is on his route the mail can be quickly and easily removed from the pockets wvhen the top strap is open.

Having thus described the invention \vhat is claimed is:

l. A pouch of the character described comprising a plurality of independent bags of substantially rectangular shape and constructed of flexible material, said bags betops uppermost, substantially rectangular reinforcing frames of less Width and length than the bags and arranged between the opposing sides of the latter nearer to the upper edges of said sides, stitching uniting the op posing sides of the bags and extending around said frames, whereby the bags are united, the frames retained between the bags and bellows-like folds are provided at the sides and bottom of the pouch, similar reinforcing frames arranged upon the outer sides of the endmost bags, sheet coverings stitched to said outermost bags around said frames, and two-part adjustably connected straps arranged on both sides and on the top of the pouch, the ends of the straps being secured to said sheet coverings, the strap at the top serving as a handle and also as a closure for the open upper tops of the bags, and the straps at the sides serving to adapt the pouch to the contents of the bags, substantially as described.

2. A pouch of the character described con'iprising a plurality of independent bags of flexible material arranged side to side and united to each other, reinforcing frames between adjacent bags, and adjustable twm part straps arranged on both sides of the ing arranged side to side With their open pouch and at its top, the ends of the straps being secured to the ends of the pouch, the side straps serving to adapt the pouch to the contents of its bags and the top straps serving as a handle and as a means for retaining the contents of the bags therein.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. illeCRAlV.

Jitnesses:

E. :D. Bnoons, S. P. YotiNoiin. 

